Mobile store manager Kayla Flock said that small, medium and large drip coffees are free at the cart for the next month. Small espressos, teas and other specialty drinks are available for free as well, although prices are posted on an a-frame in front of the store.

“We haven’t done much advertising, so people have been hearing about us mostly through word of mouth,” Flock said.

“A lot of people have been walking up expecting to pay for a cup of coffee and they have been pleasantly surprised.”

The cart will be open daily until Nov. 17, one day before the more permanent Peet’s location is scheduled to open. Many former Caribou Coffee employees have been able to sign on with Peet’s, and are getting some on-the-job training in the cart.

“We have two people staffing each day who used to work at the Caribou Coffee here,” mobile store manager Kayla Flock said.

“We’re trying to keep as many employees as possible from the previous store as we prepare to open.”

Flock said some people who have come by the cart have expressed disappointment that Caribou left, but that most seem open to trying Peet’s, especially when greeted by their usual baristas. Former Caribou employees have already undergone training at a local hotel so that they can operate the cart and hit the ground running when the new Peet’s store opens Nov. 18.